Slide fastener



I Patented O eblo: 19,39 l

i UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ,LSM

Application July 2, 1938, Sl'il N0. 211,146

(Cl. 24-207l 7 Claims.

T 'Ihe invention relates to' improvements in slide fasteners and more particularly to the type consisting of a pair of flexible stringers having beads extending along the marginal edges thereof which beads are adapted to and have mounted for sliding movement thereon a plurality of fastener elements such as buttons secured in spaced relation y a closure means of certainty and smoothness of operation and ability to withstand repeated ltension and wear to which the elements are subjected during use.

, It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a slide fastener of this general characterwhich is characterized by inexpensiveness of fabrication, so that the various elements may be fabricated at a minimum of cost'necessary for quantity production and to insure a facility and smoothness of operation Without the fastener structure getting out of-order or being subjected to inordinate wear dur-ing use.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a construction in which the fastener elements are with facility, and at extremely low cost of fabrication and assembly, slidably mounted upon the beading extending along the marginal edgesof the stringers and effectively and permanently secured to an underlying tape at appropriate intervals along such tape. A more particular object of the invention is to provide a structure for fastening the elements or buttons to the underlying tape comprising a metallic or similarly stiff member encompassing the edges of the tape, the

member being provided with a centrally disposed aperture through which extends a projecting portion of the fastener element, which projecting portion, after having been passed through the stiff member as' well as the tape body, is permanently secured thereto, for instance, by distortion, as by heat or pressure, or both.

go A further and more specific object of my invention is to provide a pair of channels in the flat undersurface of the fastener elements in which channels the beads of thestringers may be loosely held andmaintained in the proper position by abutting relation with such beads, of the metallic member securely fastened to the button and also to the underlyingtape.

Thus, `my novel improvements are constituted of a specific structure of fastener element, a spe-- cic means of securing the same to the tape 5 underlying the fastener stringers, and the novel combinationjfof such fastener elements and a means of securing them to the tape in proper position foreifective functioning of the slide fastener structure to constitute a closure means,` for instance, for a garment such as a blouse, shirt or similar article of apparel, to which a slide fastener of ornamental character and the specific utility is applicable.

A particular embodiment `of my inventive structure is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of a pair of stringers to whichl my novel structure has been applied; Fig'.- 2` is a bottom plan view of such stringers and slide fastener structure Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the stringers, showing a portion of the slide fastener structure in closure opening position by the drawing upwardly of the lowermost button so that it causes progressive movement of the other fastener elements; Fig. 4 is a plan View of a portion of the underlying tape with the metallic flattened member encompassing the same and adapted to receive the fastener element; Fig. 5 is a view of the fastener element or button and of thev tape and metal member just prior to application of the former to the latter for securement therein; Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the two elements of Fig. 5 after they have been joined together and permanently fastened; Fig. I is a vertical section through one of the fastener elements in its position in which it is secured upon the beads of thestringers with the tape and fastening metal member in position under the stringers; and Fig. 8 is a vertical sec tion through a fastener element disposed for operative movement along the stringers.

. Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which similar reference characters identify similar parts in the several views, to the opening in the garment to which my novel slide fastener structure is to be applied, are secured by stitching or' otherwise a-pair of exible stringers I0 and l I, the marginal edges of which are provided with beading I2. It will be understood that instead of providing a pair of flexible stringers, the marginal edges of the garment opening itself, i. e., the material thereof, may be provided with beading. For purposes of facility of manufacture and sale, lt is customary to provide such beaded or corded stringers for, application to the ,marginal edges of 55 ing edges of the stringers.

the garment opening so that the slide fastener structure may be fabricated and sold in lengths from which the required amount may be detached and secured to the garment at the appropriate places thereof.

The fastener element, in accordance with my invention, is constituted of a button I3, of preferably, but not necessarily, substantially hemisphercal form. In the ilat undersurface of the button there are provided two substantially semicircular channels I4 and I5, with a projection I5 extending therebetween and protruding beyond the fiat undersurface of the button.

Positioned immediately belowl the marginal edges of the stringers I0 and I I is a flexible tape I I extending throughout the length of the meet- Throughout the length of such tape, in spaced relation, substantially that of the spacing between the plurality of buttons desired when they are in closure operative position, are secured a plurality of metal clasps I8. Such metal clasps are constituted of a blank of sheet metal material having a rectangular slot I9 centrally and longitudinally disposed therein, the clasp being secured to the tape by having the free ends thereof straddle the edges of the tape, being bent over upon such tape, so as to have the free edges of the-clasp brought into substantial juxtaposition along the vertical central line thereof. Cooperating with the elongated rectangular slot I9 is a slot of the same conguration in the tape Il. The button I3, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, is constituted of a material of a plastic composition so that'in the assembling of the button with the clasp member i8, the projection IS of the button is passed through the elongated slot I9 of the clasp and the corresponding slot of the tape I1, and the portion 2I of such projection, which extends beyond the undersurface of such clasp, by the application, forinstance, of

heat or pressure, or heat and pressure combined,

be caused, by reason of its plasticity, to assume a spread-out configuration and to become set in such condition to securely fasten the buttonl to the clasp element. It Will be understood by those skilled in the art, of course, that any well-known method of causing a firm securement of the end portion of the projection I6 of the button to the clasp and to the tape, to which such clasp is in turn rmly secured, may be utilized.

The result of the operationjust described, is

. illustrated in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawing, from which figure it will be apparent that' by -reason of the fact that the width of the projection I6 is 'slightly reduced between the portions 20 and 2l to conform with the width of the slot I9, the penetration of the projection I6 through the slot I9'will be stopped at precisely the right position, by 'the shoulder formed by portion 20.

In assembling my novel slide fastener structure, the tape I'I is secured to the fabric of the stringers and marginal beads thereof by stitching 22 at the end of the garment opening, the closure of which is to be effected by the fastener structure. The opposite end of the tape, as at 23, is bent backwards and secured to the portion ot the tape adjacent the trailing end of the leading clasp element I8. The plurality of buttons, of whichany number may be used, are mounted so as to have the beaded marginal portions of the stringers extend within thechannels I4 and I5 in the at undersurface Vof the buttons. Any

. as to eifect a movement of the leading button to which it is secured, upwardly, moving such button along the beaded marginal edges of the stringers thereby forming a loop 25 in the tape Il. As the underlying clasp I8 has the end thereof abut the opposite end of the adjacent clasp, such adjacent clasp will likewise be moved upwardly, forming another loop in the tape, etc.. until all of the clasps and buttons secured thereto are moved towards their uppermost position along the stringers to effect the opening or separation of the stringers, a plurality of loops 25 being thus formed in the tape I1. When all of the clasps and buttons have been moved to their uppermost position adjacent the point of securement by stitching 22 of the tape Il to the stringers, a complete opening or separation of the stringers will be effected. In order to effect the closure of the garment opening, it is only necessary to grasp the nger .grip 24 and to pull the same downwardly to bring the plurality of clasps and buttons into their closure, or spaced relationship, as illustrated in Fig. 1..

It will be noted that the beaded marginal edges of the stringers are easily accommodated within the channels I 4 and I5 of the buttons, being loosely held therein by the clasp elements securely fastened to the tape II and to which the button elennents are, in turn, securely fastened.

It will be also noted that there is suiilcient space between the nat under surface of the fastener element I3 and the top surface of lthe clasp member I8 to permit a free sliding movement of the composite fastener structure upon the beaded stringers'lIl and Il.

While I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes therein, particularly in the arrangement and configuration of the several elements thereof, may be made without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. In a slide fastener structure, a pair of substantially exible stringers or the like, each having a bead extending along its marginal edge, a tape disposed beneath such beaded marginal edges of such stringers, a clasp element constituted of stiff material xedly encompassing said tape and positioned in spaced relation upon, said tape, said clasp element having a centrally disposed slot therein, cooperating with a slot in said tape, a fastener element having a. projection extending through the slot in said clasp element and ,in said tape, an enlargement on the end portion of said projection, said fastener element having a pair of channels in the flat undersurface thereof adapted to receive the beaded marginal edges of the stringers whereby said fastener element is slidable along said beaded. marginal edges.

, 2. In a slide fastener structure, a pair of substantially flexible stringers or the like, each having a' bead extending along its marginal edge, a.

tape disposed beneath such beaded marginal edges of such stringers, a metal clasp elementiixedly stituted of a plastic and having a central projectionextending through the -slot in said clasp element and in said tape, an enlargement on the end portion of said projection, said fastener element having a pair of channels in the ii'at undersurface thereof adapted'to receive the beaded marginal edges of the stringers.

3. In a slide fastener structure, a pair of substantially exible stringers or the like each having a bead extending along its marginal edge, a tape disposed beneath such beaded marginal edges of such stringers, a metal clasp element xedly encompassing said tape and positioned in spaced relation upon said tape, said clasp element having a lcentrally disposed rectangular slot therein, a fastener element having a pair of chanv nels in the flat undersurface thereof and having a projection between said channels, extending through the longitudinal slot in said clasp relement and through said clasp element, theend portion of said projection extending beneath the tangular slot therein, cooperating with a slot inV said tape, a fastener element of substantially hemispherical configuration having a lcentral projection extending through the longitudinal slot in said clasp element and in said tape,"an enlargement on the end portion of said projection,

said fastener element having a pair of channels v inv the flat undersurface thereof adapted to receive the beaded marglal edges of the stringers.

5. Ina slide fastener structure, a pair of substantially exible stringers or the like, each having a bead extending along its marginal edge, a tape of substantially the same width as the two beaded marginal edges of the stringers when they are in substantial juxtaposition, said tape being disposed beneath such beaded marginal edges of such stringers, a clasp element constituted of stiff metal material xedly encompassing said tape and positioned in spaced relation thereupon, said clasp element having a centrally disposed slot therein, cooperating with a slot in said tape, a button constituted of a plastic material and of substantially hemispherical configuration having a central projection extending through the slot in said clasp element and in said tape, an enlargement on the end portion Aof said projection, said buttonV having a pair of channels inthe at undersurface thereof adapted toreceive the beaded marginal edges of the stringere, whereby the button is slidable along said beaded marginal edges` to cause the separation or bringing into juxtapo sition of the stringers.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in- .which the under surface ,of the fastener element fis spaced from the top surface of the clasp element a sufficient amount to permit a free sliding movement of theI composite fastener structure upon the beaded stringers. Y

7. Thel combination as. claimed which the under surface of the button is spaced from the top surface of the clasp element a sufclent amount to permit a free sliding movement of the composite fastener structure upon the beaded strlngers. 'A g BENJAMIN KLEIN.

in claim 5, in 

